Thursday, May 31, 2007

Among the surprises for the Pirates of the Caribbean Adventures on the 7 Seas Lagoon event is:*Special alternativecover advance issue of Sketches Magazine just for event guests. This collectible issue of May Sketches magazine features a WDCC Pirates of the Caribbean cover and back along with the event logo on the front. Only a small production run were printed with this alternative cover, available only at the event in the guests' check-in packets and a few offered at Public Day.The regular version of May Sketches Magazine will feature Ursula Villains Series piece on the cover and mail before the end of May.*WDCC Pirates of the Caribbean Button featuring the Auctioneer & Redhead and the event name/date. Event guests will also receive this WDCC button at check-in and some may be available at Public Day.

There has been some confusion on how the Auctioneer & Redhead and Pirate with Pigs are to be backstamped.

There should only be one Pirate logo backstamp on the Auctioneer & Redhead as well as the Pirate with Pigs. 500 sculptures each for the event have the Event Logo Backstamp (pictured above with sculptures). They do not have the skull and crossed swords Pirates logo. The Open Edition pieces will have the skull and crossed swords Pirates logo.

To help keep track, below is how each of the Pirates in the Caribbean Series releases thus far are backstamped:

Auctioneer & Redhead - 500 sculptures will debut at the event with a Special Event Backstamp (pictured above). The remaining edition will be available with the special Pirates of the Caribbean backstamp (Skull and Crossed Sword Pirate Logo).

Pirate with Pigs - 500 sculptures will debut at the event with a Special Event Backstamp (pictured above). The remaining edition will be available with the special Pirates of the Caribbean backstamp (Skull and Crossed Sword Pirate Logo).

Daisy Duck("Twist and Twirl") from The Mickey Mouse Club, Limited to Production Year 2006 is now Sold Out!

Walt Disney Classics Collection introduced the Mickey Mouse Club sculptures in 2005. The first introductions were the Open Edition releases of Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and Minnie Mouse. Mickey's Nephew, a 2005 Dealer Show Exclusive and Limited to Production Year 2005 was also released.

Daisy (5-3/4") joined the club as part of the 2006 introductions that also included J. Audubon Woodlore and Humphrey the Bear (both Open Editon Releases). 2007 (thus far) we will see the introductions of Pluto and a porcelainMickey Mouse Club Logo Plaque. All Mickey Mouse Club sculptures have been sculpted by Bruce Lau. Daisy has a SRP of $99.00 US.

Collectors should check with their retailer regarding availability since Daisy is no longer in inventory.

This arsenal scene with the Pirate on Cannon(Mr. Coote) appears at Disneyland® Park and some other Pirates of the Caribbean attractions at other Disney Theme Parks around the world, but not at WALT DISNEY WORLD® Resort.

The Pirate on Cannon(9 ½" Height x 13" Length x 8" Base Width) with a SRP of $350.00 US is sculpted by Ruben Procopio. This is Ruben's 3rd Release in the Pirates of the Caribbean Series.

Ruben was also the Concept Artist on Pirates with Pigs, Pirate on Archway Bridge and the Pirate on Cannon. He is also the Concept Artist on the upcoming Jail Scene with Dog, sculpted by Tim Bruckner.

Today was the sneak peek of fall and winter releases from Walt Disney Classics Collection currently on display at the Art of Disney Gallery located in the Downtown Disney® Marketplace from Tuesday, May 22nd thru Monday, May 28th plus a number of significant retirements. The following were retired:

There are a number of other Third Quarternew introductions not shown as part of the Sneak Peak which will be announced soon as part of the official Third Quarter Launch including a full new scene. There is at least one more unveiling that will take place at the event.

One of the sculptures making its debut will be the 5th release in the Pirates of the Caribbean Series, Pirate on the Archway Bridge: "A Parrot's Life for Me!" (11-1/2") sculpted by Ruben Procopio with a SRP of $250.00.This is Ruben's second release in the series. He also sculpted Pirate with Pigs: "Drink Up Me 'earties!." The Pirate with Pigs is the 4th release in the series and will be making it's debut May 22-25, 2007 during the WALT DISNEY WORLD® Resort Pirates of the Caribbean: Adventures on the 7 Seas Lagoon special event. 500 sculptures will debut at the event with a special event backstamp.

For anyone in the area this is a great opportunity not to be missed! For guests who will not be registering for the event, be sure to stop by DISNEY's CONTEMPORARY Resort on Friday afternoon (May 25th) for Public Day where Dave Pacheco, Ruben Procopio and other artists will be appearing and signing WDCC sculptures.

Two new exciting sculptures were released this year from Walt Disney's animated classic, Peter Pan (1953) and when displayed together make an awesome grouping!

This years Of Dreams & Magic release, a Walt Disney Collectors Society Members Only Sculpture is straight from Mermaid Lagoon from that moment when Peter is boasting of his escapades to Never Land's bevy of beautiful mermaids.

"Spinning a Spellbinding Story," sculpted by Dusty Horner is available to active Society members from January 01, 2007 thru March 31, 2008.In one of the most famous images in Disney animation, Captain Hook masterfully commands the rowboat as the bumbling Mr. Smee rows for Skull Rock. "An Irresistible Lure," sculpted by Tim Bruckner is a Numbered Limited Edition of 1,500.Pictured with both sculptures is Skull Rock, a gift given to registered convention guests upon registering for the 2003 Celebration of Walt Disney Art Classics aboard the Disney Cruise Line®, May 15-18, 2003. Skull Rock was a Limited Edition of 500.

Pirates and Wenches alike had the opportunity to purchase the familiar “Dunking Scene” where one of the pirate leaders is interrogating the village’s mayor, consistently dunking the poor magistrate in the well. The "Dunking Scene" was a two-piece, Numbered Limited Edition of 1,500 matched, numbered set sculpted by Bruce Lau.Landlubbers who signed on received a "Pirate's Life for Me!" Title Scroll(pictured above). The Pirate's Scroll (3") was sculpted by Bruce Lau. Each map has the Convention logo backstamp on the back with WALT DISNEY WORLD® logo and March 2000 underneath the Convention logo.

Wednesday, May 16, 2007

In my blog entry on the Pirates of the Caribbean Adventures on the 7 Seas Lagoon WDCC Auction Offerings, one of the Auction Offerings was a pair of hand-painted finished porcelain Artist Proofs of two Walt Disney Classics Collection exclusives for the Disney Cruise Line®.Captain Mickey: "Welcome Aboard!" (5-1/4" - red & blue uniform) was released in 2003 as part of the Celebration of Walt Disney Art Classics Event as an Open Edition release (SRP $99.00 US) and will be honored with retirement on Wednesday, May 23rd.Captain Mickey: "Set Sail for Fun" (5" - white uniform) will be making his debut aboard the Disney Cruise Line® this summer also as an Open Edition release (SRP $99.00 US).The originalDisney Cruise Line® Captain Mickey was retired due to the Captain Mickey character on the ships has a costume update — the navy whites with the gold trim. Hence, the Cruise Line requested a new Walt Disney Classics Collection sculpture reflecting the updated costume.

Available only on the Disney Cruise Line®. Disney Cruise Line® exclusive merchandise lives only on board the ships :)

Monday, May 14, 2007

If it be more spoils of the Treasures of Tortuga ye' seek, gaze upon the rare offerings in the Pirates of the Caribbean Adventures on the 7 Seas Lagoon AUCTION.For a glimpse at the cache of rareWalt Disney Classics Collection treasure up for bid as part of the auction, follow this link...Some items will be offered as part of the event live auction on Thursday evening May 24th, other items will be offered as part of a silent auction for registered guests of the event.

When the 2006 Numbered Limited Edition release of Chernabog was announced in 4th quarter, the image available was of the prototype. Today, the Image Gallery and Secondary Guide was updated with a final paint image of this amazing sculpture.

"Symphony of Evil" (10-1/2") is a Numbered Limited Edition of 1,000 sculpted by Ruben Procopio with a SRP of $650.00.

Trivia: Chernabog was animated by veteran animator Vladimir "Bill" Tytla, a true pioneer of Disney animation and honored by the Walt Disney Collectors Society in 2001 with the Animators' Choice release of Dumbo & Mrs. Jumbo ("Baby of Mine").

The Numbered Limited Edition sculpture release celebratingDisneyland's 50th Anniversary is now Sold Out!

"Family Vacation" (5-3/4"H x 7-1/4"W x 4"D) featuring Donald, Daisy and Donald's nephews, Huey, Louie and Dewey made its debut at Disneyland® Resort in July 2005 and then released to all other retailers in late August and September that same year.

A Numbered Limited Edition of 1,955 in honor of the opening of Disneyland® was sculpted by Bruce Lau with a SRP of $299.00.

Fun Facts:

Donald's classic red roadster (inspired by the auto seen in the last Donald Duck theatrical cartoon produced to date, 'The Litterbug') is complete with Donald's famous '313' license plate and Donald Duck hood ornament.

Coloration of Donald's license plate was based on research of California license plates of that era.

The special wish list sculpture will have a low limited edition limit and will be a new sculpture, not a special backstamp version of an existing piece, which will not be generally available after the event. Fulfillment will take place in the fall, approximately September, 2007.

Tuesday, May 1, 2007

The 15 Year Charter Member Exclusive is from the 1928 animated short, "Plane Crazy" starring Mickey and Minnie Mouse.

'First Flight'(6-3/8") is available with a Charter Memberbackstamp to Society Members with 15 years of consecutive membership and authentically portrayed in black and white, just as they appeared in the film, the first Mickey Mouse cartoon ever produced.

Charter Members who have already renewed for 2007 (Cinderella Membership Kit) will receive their redemption certificates inside the May Sketches (mailing later this month). If the Charter Memberchooses to wait until their expiration date to renew their membership, they will receive their 15th Anniversary Redemption Certificate within 4-6 weeks after the renewal is processed.

The Plane is comprised of mixed media featuring a resin body, a steel propeller, pewter steering wheel, a brass tube and bronze wheel legs. Minnie has pewter legs and a brass wire tail. The sculpture is also accompanied by a wood base with a porcelain inset plaque.

Reminder: Should a member decide they would like to renew early, a full twelve months is added on to their membership's original expiration date. The member does not lose time or change their original renewal month by renewing early (which is a common mis-perception).

There will be another version (non-charter) for the 15-year consecutive Society Members that will not have the Charter Member backstamp and will have an altered inset plaque.